Working Moms

Update: marriage issues

Hey guys. I promised I would post an update about my situation that I had posted a few weeks back.

So. I really took a lot of the advice from posts to heart. I really tried to push forth the "I can't change somebody else's way of thinking, I can only change mine" and that I can't control somebody else's actions either. It worked well, and every day was a struggle of mind control or whatever.

As you recall, my husband wasn't sure how he felt anymore due to fighting and stress of baby etc. I went away for 4 days last week and it actually helped my frame of mind. I was concerned he wouldn't miss me and I never asked. Nor did he say. But after those 4 days when he picked me up from the airport I thought out of the corner of my eye that he was fighting tears back. But I never asked. Anyways, the week following that (this past) was very great. No fights, he genuinely seemed back to his normal talkative joking self. He even initiated sex which he hadn't done in a few months. It was always me.

But if you remember my previous posts, he is going away next week for a week on a work trip. This made me nervous because I saw on our phone bill that he had been chatting to a fellow female colleague who is also going. She is with somebody as well btw. And I confronted him about it and he assured me it was work related. Ya ya. Anyway, this past month he has not talked to her once. At least not from his cell anyway, so I'm chalking it up to he needed a shoulder during what was a very hard time. So deep down, because I know he did so much talking to this person over August and September it made me a little insecure especially knowing she's going on this trip. So I'm acting different (I know I am) and looking for things that probably aren't there. And he sees it for sure.

Last nigh I said something about his trip that seemed to be condescending towards him or indicate something he was hiding. He got so mad and we argued and he stormed out.

Told me that today would be different. But he's clearly not different and has gone back to his old attitude. No doubt he is looking forward to his trip now. Any time something debatable comes up he closes right off.

What am I supposed to do. I feel like I can never win and can never do anything right.
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Re: Update: marriage issues

  • Keep taking care of yourself. I know it is hard not to worry and speculate about his trip but he is going to do what he wants to do. He might be defensive if he feels guilty. You can't make him change and want to be happy and frankly, why would you want to be with someone who doesn't want to make it better. I know it hurts and sucks but I would try to back off, give it time, focus on yourself. If he wants to make it work, he will come around, if not, try to regroup and move on in a healthy way.
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  • I'm sorry you're going through this.
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  • Maybe you could say you missed him and see if he responds... if not say did you miss me too?
    It would really make me mad if someone turned my valid concerns back on me...if he wanted to ease your mind he should have reassured you with kindness instead of stomping off.
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  • I just think you both need counseling.  Couples counseling, preferably.  He doesn't sound like an open and supportive husband at all.  And you don't sound  very confident in yourself at all. 
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  • Let him go on his stupid trip and be excited.  You need to be MORE excited that he is leaving...and make it obvious!  Make plans with whomever you can. Don't let him think that you are going to be sitting at home worrying about what he is doing.  He sounds like an emotional weiner that needs to GTFU.  You shouldn't have to walk on eggshells 24/7 to appease him and make sure that you don't "awaken the beast".  Don't worry about him, there is nothing that you can do even if he DID so something.  You take care of yourself and do things that you otherwise wouldn't be able to do while he is around. 

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  • Regarding this trip - I would go with him.   I would suprise him with the news that you are going!  "I'm so excited, this will be great!" Logistcally challenging, but I'd go on that trip.

    And I agree with others, counsiling will help more that what these boards can offer simply because the support is more intensive.

  • Realistically I can't go on the trip. It would be great, but can't afford it and it is 30 other work people. It wouldn't be appropriate.

    You guys are right about him. He is a good person but were just stuck in a rut right now I guess that no matter what comes up feeling wise it just gets spiraled out of control and everybody gets upset. He is very closed off.
    I think before he leaves tonight I'm just going to say that when you come back it WILL be different. You will be different and focus on my positives instead of negatives. Focus on what WE can do different as opposed to what I should do different. I can't live this way and it's been like 12 weeks of shit. It needs to change.

    I felt like I was doing soooo well last week. I had such a I can't change anybody I can only changed self attitude. And that I can't control what he is doing mentality. Then it just went down the pipes for some reason and I'm back to square one. I hate it. I'm not sure what happened.
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  • Read the last two paragraphs that you wrote. First you say that you are going to tell him to be different. Then in the next paragraph, you state you know you can't change him.

    Please take other pp advice and see a counselor. Even if it is by yourself. You need a place to talk and your husband can't be that for you right now no matter what you demand he do.
  • Counseling. Get it. You both need it, but you can't force him, so at least get it for yourself.
  • Imagine your child is an adult and is in the relationship you're describing (in your role of course).  What would you tell your child to do? Would you counsel him or her to stay with someone like your husband knowing how he treats you?

     

  • It is important to stress that I am going to counselling. It is helping and I enjoy it.  He won't go to counselling because he thinks that is basically the end.

    I say he is a great guy because he always has been. Just recently in the past few months it has been very stressful on both our sides.  He's going through something and I guess i'm at the receiving end.  My therapist told me to always remember that for 2 years I was going through PPD/PPA and that I myself was unrecognizable and wasn't my true self.  He dealt with that, without me even realizing what he was going through.  That was 2 years!    This has been 3 months, and this has been his way of dealing with all of that I guess.

    I'm not saying i'm nto in denial, but I think the anticipation of this trip was just eating away at me, and now that he is gone... I do miss him already (he left this morning) but it will be a nice little break for both of us.

    Last night I did say I would miss him and he said no you'll be fine.  And again, I kept pushing for him to say it back to the point that we got into another arguement (I was acting like a child in some ways) and he said it's hard to say yes i'll miss you when we've been having such a hard time in the last 12 weeks. Why would I miss that.    agreed.  I get that.     But I did say when he comes back he needs to start expressing his love because thats all I want and need.  If he can't, well then something bigger will happen.

    I do trust him, and I think my imagination is getting the best of me when it comes to this colleague who is also on the trip.  No doubt they chat, and maybe he needed a shoulder.  Last months bill had 0 calls on it to this person.  I'm nto saying they didn't talk but there were no calls over 4 minutes on the bill.  I can't say this didn't make me feel a little more relieved.  But I think i've been pushing and acting like a baby the past few weeks because of this stupid trip.

    I'm just tired of feeling this way, and of course al of your advice is so helpful and great.  But it's so much easier said than done.  I am trying. 

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